Speculation: LA Kings Offseason Thread

[GameNight]

Has a team in the NHL ever had all 12 forwards shooting left?

It could happen. Well done Rob

 

[No Name The Nameless]

Its not the way the Kings and Tmac in particular do things.
They make players be responsible first and they do it with less minutes on lesser talented lines.
It is an additional credit to Byfield that he was able to listen and have the discipline to do things the way the coaches told him to.
Solid play first , goals later = all around player = Vilardi, kempe.
So much so that Byfield at 20 freaking years old earned a spot on L1 with future HoFer Kopi and helped Kempe to 41 goals under renowned gatekeeper Tmac.
And some people can't get past his struggle in goal scoring. He checked every other box.
Look how many trade proposals want Byfield on the main board.
And you can bet Blake is getting many offers trying to poach him.
Blake needs to hold him because he has a very bright future after breaking out on L1 this year.
Sorry Sol , I have heard about your past blown calls and I believe you are in the midst of yet another one or two actually including your assessment of me!

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/25/d9/55/25d955c81266041db6afc2dd63756912.jpg

Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Byfield “earn” an AHL stint and a benching last year too?

 

[Statto]

Has a team in the NHL ever had all 12 forwards shooting left?

It could happen. Well done Rob

So you’re criticising him for a hypothetical. RV and Vilardi shoot right as does Kupari.

 

[YP44]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Byfield “earn” an AHL stint and a benching last year too?

you mean after he had mono or whatever it was that caused him to miss weeks of action and lose a shit load of weight?

 

[bmr]

Here’s the thing it’s hard to know if he’s doing better with Kopitar centering him. Iafallo made Kopitars line better too so i don’t put much stock into line chemistry vs individual skillset at all.

I want to know what you see from Byfield that is very promising. I think he has good speed and he makes some good passes every now and then.

I think you guys are conflating the Kopitar effect and a bit of nhl game maturity to “this guys ceiling his high”. What do you guys see with Byfield that makes you think he has a high ceiling?

He’s got good speed and decent vision. What else?

Byfield looked good early in the season with Vilardi and Iafallo also. If we don't see another step forward this upcoming year, then I will begin to worry a little bit.

 

[GameNight]

So you’re criticising him for a hypothetical. RV and Vilardi shoot right as does Kupari.

Yup. Only because 2 of them have been frequently mentioned in trade proposals no? 2 are RFAs, the other a year away from UFA.

And btw, are you telling me 3 right shots are enough? How many times were 1 of them injured? And none of them are centers.

 

[bmr]

In my opinion if Kings will trade Vilardi, Durzi, Iafallo and Moore for PLD it will work great money wise for them.

I think Vilardi has better hands, better shooting and better hockey IQ, but PLD is better skater and more physical and still has good hands/hockey IQ/shooting.

Winnipeg has problem retaining players and will be interested receiving Vilardi, Durzi, Iafallo and Moore in the trade.

After this trade Kings will have enough money to solve their goaltending and physicality’s issues.

P.S. I love Vilardi, but his old back issues still scare me.

I just don't see how that makes the Kings a better team. Vilardi was an absolute game changer for this team last year. The kind of goals he can score and his hockey IQ make him invaluable to this team. I get the injury concern, but I think a lot of his back issues are related to that final growth spurt and learning to work through that. Outside of that crash into the boards last year, he stayed fairly healthy.

If we can get PLD for between 7-8 mill, I'd think about it...but not at the cost of losing Vilardi. I'm okay with losing Durzi, Iafallo, Moore, 1st round pick - MAYBE even Byfield. But for me Vilardi and Clarke are 2 players I would definitely not want to lose.

 

[Statto]

Yup. Only because 2 of them have been frequently mentioned in trade proposals no? 2 are RFAs, the other a year away from UFA.

And btw, are you telling me 3 right shots are enough? How many times were 1 of them injured? And none of them are centers.

Fan proposals… nothing but speculation and supposition. Their contract status is a separate issue.

Whether 3 RH forwards is enough is a completely different nuance, although it’s within the statistical norm if you assume 12% are left handed and therefore typically a right shot.

 

[GameNight]

Fan proposals… nothing but speculation and supposition. Their contract status is a separate issue.

Whether 3 RH forwards is enough is a completely different nuance, although it’s within the statistical norm if you assume 12% are left handed and therefore typically a right shot.

Also a separate issue from all that stuff, the W-L record without either Vilardi or Arvidsson in the lineup. OR in other words, 1 right handed shot amongst their top 9 gave the Kings...

12-10-2 = 26 points

and over 82 games = 89 points

Yet another blindspot in the roster construction. It needs to be addressed

 

[No Name The Nameless]

you mean after he had mono or whatever it was that caused him to miss weeks of action and lose a shit load of weight?

Would that be considered an upper body injury.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

a surprising number of players and high quality players have been unable to mesh with Kopi.
Like Fiala.

I feel like the 'failure' of the Fiala - Kopitar - Kempe line experiment is/was greatly overexaggerated. They played pretty well together tbh.

Even more so... I also think Vilardi - Kopitar - Kempe worked a lot better than we give it credit for and I wouldn't be opposed at all to see them together again next year.

When Gabe was playing with Kopi and Kempe, both of those guys were seriously snakebitten/cold. Gabe was pretty much the only one scoring during that time. And I remember him setting them up quite a bit for chances that just didn't convert.

 

[LeftKinger]

Draft position aside, I think Byfield did enough and showed enough potential to earn another year before passing judgment. If the Kings weren’t a contender, we’re not judging him as harshly. Next year is the big one for me.

 

[Statto]

Also a separate issue from all that stuff, the W-L record without either Vilardi or Arvidsson in the lineup. OR in other words, 1 right handed shot amongst their top 9 gave the Kings...

12-10-2 = 26 points

and over 82 games = 89 points

Yet another blindspot in the roster construction. It needs to be addressed

I think them being a right shot as the reason is a stretch. They simply provide a skill/style variation over a number of the other guys. I guess it’s possible it’s a factor but it’s not a conclusion you can draw simply due to the correlation as there are multiple factors.

 

[FSL KINGS]

you mean after he had mono or whatever it was that caused him to miss weeks of action and lose a shit load of weight?

I see what you did there. Never go full Gravel.

Yup. Only because 2 of them have been frequently mentioned in trade proposals no? 2 are RFAs, the other a year away from UFA.

And btw, are you telling me 3 right shots are enough? How many times were 1 of them injured? And none of them are centers.

Vilardi, Arvidsson, Kupari, Laferriere, Chromiak, Toffoli

Edit: & Fagemo

 

[Johnny Utah]

Rumors have Winnipeg linked to Iaffalo.

Would love to land Dillon.

 

[johnjm22]

Rumors have Winnipeg linked to Iaffalo.

Would love to land Dillon.

Dillon would be perfect as our bottom pair LHD for a season.

But he doesn't solve our long term problem there. He's about to be 33 and a UFA.

I would like Samberg. He's not as tough as Dillon though.

 

[Schrute farms]

Rumors have Winnipeg linked to Iaffalo.

Would love to land Dillon.

An AI for Dillon trade seems like a doable trade for each side. We need LHD and have too many middle wingers. They need to move out 1-2 Dmen for their young defensivemen. Salary not too far off. seemingly win, win.

 

[Docgonzo]

Iafallo to Winnipeg or Calgary seems smart right now, it looks like both team are having a mass exodus of players who don’t want to be there and need players with term on their contracts.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

An AI for Dillon trade seems like a doable trade for each side. We need LHD and have too many middle wingers. They need to move out 1-2 Dmen for their young defensivemen. Salary not too far off. seemingly win, win.

#1 2024, Durzi + Iafallo + taking Provorov 2 million

for

PLD (signed extension)
Dillion (50% retained of his final year)
2023 3RD #82 OA

 

[johnjm22]

Iafallo to Winnipeg or Calgary seems smart right now, it looks like both team are having a mass exodus of players who don’t want to be there and need players with term on their contracts.

2 years is long term?

#1 2024, Durzi + Iafallo + taking Provorov 2 million

for

PLD (signed extension)
Dillion (50% retained of his final year)
2023 3RD #82 OA

I don't think you can trade Provorov's 2M

I also don't think that's anywhere near enough value coming from LA's side.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

What rumours concerning Iafallo? Where?

 

[Nasti]

#1 2024, Durzi + Iafallo + taking Provorov 2 million

for

PLD (signed extension)
Dillion (50% retained of his final year)
2023 3RD #82 OA

The Provorov money cannot be dealt. The Kings are stuck with it.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

The Provorov money cannot be dealt. The Kings are stuck with it.

I don't see a way to get PLD without dealing one of: QB, Vilardi or Clarke, anyway and I'd thus pass.

 

[Schmooley]

I don't see a way to get PLD without dealing one of: QB, Vilardi or Clarke, anyway and I'd thus pass.

Why not? Is Montreal offering a player of that level? Nashville is rumored to be interested. Do they have a young player available on that level?
Teams with that level asset available are all rebuilding and not paying the piper for Dubois.
Maybe Detroit Buffalo or Ottawa could have a nice offer but Dubois doesnt want to go to places like that.
Why do you think the Kings need to bid against themselves here?
Id bet Clarke or anyone like him around the league isnt being offered for Dubois right now.
If the Rangers could unload Goodrow or Trochek they can start a bidding war with LA cause they can match those players.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Why not? Is Montreal offering a player of that level? Nashville is rumored to be interested. Do they have a young player available on that level?
Teams with that level asset available are all rebuilding and not paying the piper for Dubois.
Maybe Detroit Buffalo or Ottawa could have a nice offer but Dubois doesnt want to go to places like that.
Why do you think the Kings need to bid against themselves here?
Id bet Clarke or anyone like him around the league isnt being offered for Dubois right now.

I would not be against getting him, if one of these would be going: QB, Gabe or Clarke.
If 2024 #1, Kaliyev, Iafallo and Durzi could get it done, then sure. I don't think Kaliyev
will ever get top 6 minutes here, unfortunately,